Prysmian, a specialist in cable solutions, has taken delivery of a unique, heavy-duty power cable plough from SMD, a subsea technology and engineering company. The plough is the first of two systems, with the second to be delivered later this year
The vehicles are set to be mobilised on Prysmian’s new-generation cable-laying vessels, Prysmian Alessandro Volta and Prysmian Mona Lisa.
The ploughs can bury a conventional multi-core power cable, a bundled 2-pole power cable, and a quad bundle up to a maximum of 5m beneath the mean seabed level.
Combining Prysmian’s expertise in submarine power cable design and offshore installation with SMD’s advanced cable-handling and plough-design capabilities has enabled the two companies to address a unique opportunity in the industry.
Paul Davison, deputy CEO at SMD, said, “We are proud to have delivered this innovative plough to our partner Prysmian. This partnership in innovation demonstrates to grid operators that the next generation of power cables can be designed, built, installed, and protected with the highest level of assurance.
“This technology is ready to support 2GW offshore grid connections that are crucial for linking energy generation to security of supply, and their capacity positions them as a national strategic priority. The quad bundles will provide grid connections from the next-generation offshore wind farms to key industrial hubs deep in the heart of industrial Europe. They will also link renewable energy resources to high-density demand by an offshore green link, offsetting the need for land cables, pylons and disruption to the local population.
“We’ve had a long and successful partnership with Prysmian as they’ve expanded their offshore installation services, with these being their 4th and 5th SMD plough assets. They have been expert plough operators, quietly and effectively laying and burying thousands of kilometres of power cables around the world, and we look forward to continuing our partnership in equipment and being a dependable OEM service provider.”
Including SMD jetting and hard ground trenching tools, Prysmian has the full complement of burial assets for any power cable type or seabed challenge.
Peter Watson, UK Marine Base and VOO manager responsible for Prysmian’s Subsea Assets, said, “Prysmian is proud to have partnered with SMD on the development of a state-of-the-art subsea plough. This innovative machine combines Prysmian’s extensive operational expertise with SMD know-how to tackle the most demanding submarine projects.”
